What is the third step in the five steps of chiropractic exam?

What is the third step in the five steps of chiropractic exam?

• A. Posture analysis
• B. Gait Analysis
• C. Spinal Temperature
• D. Static Palpation

Answer: (B)

Gait analysis is placed here because after you’ve gathered the history and done an initial static observation of posture, observing how the patient moves provides crucial dynamic information. Evaluating stride length, symmetry, foot strike, weight transfer, and cadence reveals functional patterns and compensations that static posture alone cannot show. These dynamic findings point to where dysfunction may be most active, guiding what you test next and where to focus palpation, range of motion, and orthopedic/neurological assessments. The static posture check comes earlier, and spinal temperature and static palpation are more about tissue state and local tenderness gathered during later steps, not the primary third step. So, examining how the patient walks offers essential move-by-move insight that shapes the rest of the exam.

Gait analysis is placed here because after you’ve gathered the history and done an initial static observation of posture, observing how the patient moves provides crucial dynamic information. Evaluating stride length, symmetry, foot strike, weight transfer, and cadence reveals functional patterns and compensations that static posture alone cannot show. These dynamic findings point to where dysfunction may be most active, guiding what you test next and where to focus palpation, range of motion, and orthopedic/neurological assessments. The static posture check comes earlier, and spinal temperature and static palpation are more about tissue state and local tenderness gathered during later steps, not the primary third step. So, examining how the patient walks offers essential move-by-move insight that shapes the rest of the exam.